Contrary to claims by the Ghana Police Service that the youth of Ejura were wielding implements including firearms when security personnel took over the town Tuesday to restore calm during a protest, journalists on the ground say they did not see the protesters wield firearms.
A statement released by the Ashanti Regional Police command Tuesday, June 29, recounting events that led to the killing of two protesters and the injuring of four others said the youth charged on the security personnel wielding implements including firearms.
But Media General’s Ashanti Regional correspondent, Ibrahim Abubakar, who has been on the grounds the whole of yesterday covering the protest said he saw some of the protesters wield sticks and stones but not firearms.
Ibrahim’s observation seemed to have been corroborated by the Ashanti Regional Police PRO, ASP Godwin Ahianyo, who in answering to a question on whether or not the police have retrieved any firearm from the protesters, said no firearm has been retrieved. He however added that investigations were ongoing to identify persons purported to have been holding firearms without authorisation for onward prosecution.
